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Updated Saturday, September 26, 2009 12:09 am TWN, By John J. Metzler, United Nations correspondent

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Beyond U.N. political rants come a few sober economic messages

Uribe then stated, “The economic crisis is a crisis of speculation, not of the free entrepreneurship creativity.” He warned “We fear a new protectionist phase and the selective closure of developed economies.” He was of course alluding to the planned U.S./Colombia Free Trade Agreement which was blocked earlier this year by Nancy Pelosi's Democrat party dominated Congress.

Panama's new President Ricardo Martinelli equally stressed his country's commitment to investment and free trade; “We are open for business. We believe in free trade as a tool to improve people's lives. We want to do business with all nations and sign Free Trade Agreements with our strategic partners.”

Another view of economic development, albeit of the statist style, was presented by People's Republic of China President Hu Jintao. Addressing the Assembly in measured and unemotional tones, Beijing's leader looked more like Chairman of the Board of China Ltd., than the ruler of the world's most populous state.

Even here there were concessions to economic reality, “Thirty years ago, the Chinese people started the historic journey of reform, opening up and socialist modernization. Since then the Chinese society has shown unprecedented vigor and creativity.” Yes, that's due to the hard work and entrepreneurship of the Chinese people. But what happened on the economic front between 1949 prior to 1978 and Deng Xiaoping's economic reforms? The story of the PRC's first thirty years remains a moribund litany of wasted resources, forced socializations, brutal famine and human misery.

Still Hu Jintao asserted confidently, “We will continue to be committed to the path of socialism with our national characteristics.” China's economy has prospered, but the official political libretto is still determined by the Chinese Communist Party, of which Hu is General Secretary.

Now as industrial states confer at the G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh, delegates will again be confronted by the choice between freer markets or wider regulations and creeping protectionism. The temptation towards bigger government will likely prevail.

John J. Metzler is a United Nations correspondent covering diplomatic and defense issues.

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